Cannons Defeat Machine, 19-13, In Home Finale

Paul Rabil Scored Seven Points to Lead Offense and Close In On Major League Lacrosse Single-Season Record

August 4, 2012 - BOSTON, MA - Five Cannons had multi-goal games as the Boston Cannons (8-5) defeated the Ohio Machine (2-11) tonight, 19-13, in front of 9,056 fans at Harvard Stadium. Paul Rabil and Ryan Boyle led the offense with seven and six points, respectively, while Chris Eck was named Bud Light Player of the Game for winning 75% of the face-offs (24 of 32).

"It was a nice way to finish strong at home and get the win for our fans," said Cannons head coach Steve Duffy. "The win keeps us in the playoff hunt and we'll move forward to Ohio next week hoping to clinch."

Ohio came out hot as Jim Connelly, Connor Martin and Greg Bice scored three in a row for the Machine before Kevin Buchanan scored an unassisted goal to get the Cannons on the board. Ohio added two more but Ari Sussman had one and JJ Morrissey scored two, including a fast break goal with seven seconds on the clock, to keep the Cannons within one at the end of the first quarter.

The Cannons dominated the second quarter with two two-pointers, one from Rabil and another from Brian Farrell. Matt Poskay scored twice in the quarter, Martin Cahill added one and Buchanan notched his second as the Cannons took the lead, 12-8, going into the break.

Connelly again opened the scoring for the Machine with two straight goals, but it was all Boston after that with goals from Buchanan, Boyle, Sussman and Poskay as the Cannons pulled away with a six-goal lead going into the final quarter.

Rabil scored two unassisted goals in the fourth quarter to reach 68 points on the season, just three from matching the MLL single-season record of 71 set by John Grant, Jr. in 2007. In an awards ceremony following the game, Rabil was named the 2012 Cannons Offensive Player of the Year.

With 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points on the season, Boyle received the Cannons MVP Award. Goalie Jordan Burke earned Defensive Player of the Year and Owen "Kit" Smith, who won a spot on the team at the open tryout in March, was named Rookie of the Year. Matt Smalley received a standing ovation from the crowd and his teammates as he received the 11th Man Award after returning to the field following a fight with testicular cancer earlier this year.

The Cannons travel to Ohio next Saturday, August 11, to finish the regular season against the Machine. A Cannons win next week secures a spot in MLL Championship Weekend, which takes place August 25 & 26 at Harvard Stadium.